Career Opportunities To Consider

Interested in a Career in Medical Science or Medicine?

Below you will find a partial list of career opportunities available to STEP UP fellows interested in a careers similar to those supported by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases,(NIDDK).

NIDDK’s core mission areas of diabetes, endocrinology and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases and nutrition; kidney, urologic and hematologic diseases are researched and treated by a diverse group of health professionals.

Neuroscientist– Neuroscience is a highly interdisciplinary field encompassing study in fields such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, medicine, psychiatry, psychology, engineering, and mathematics.

Physiologist – The study of physiology prepares you for a wide range of careers. You can apply your knowledge of physiology directly, choosing a career in the biomedical sphere.

Pharmacologists – Pharmacologists aim to understand how drugs work so they can be used effectively and safely. They also conduct research to aid drug discovery and development. Their work involves a high level of collaboration with other scientists.

Microbiologist – The work of a microbiologist helps to prevent, diagnose and control infections as they identify and characterize organisms. They are able to comment on effective treatment and can help to develop tests to diagnose infectious diseases.

Genetic Scientists – Genetic scientists analyze hereditary characteristics to develop new pharmaceutical and agricultural products. They also work in clinical settings, as counselors for genetic diseases or physicians administering genetic treatments. Genetic scientists generally complete at least a master’s degree program; however, a doctorate is more common.

Bioinformaticist Vs. Bioinformatician – Bioinformatics is the application of computer technology to the management of biological information. Computers are used to gather, store, analyze and integrate biological and genetic information which can then be applied to gene-based drug discovery and development. The need for Bioinformatics capabilities has been precipitated by the explosion of publicly available genomic information resulting from the Human Genome Project.

Biotechnologist– As a biotechnologist you’ll use your scientific knowledge of plants, animals, microbes, biochemistry and genetics to find solutions to problems and develop new products. You may work in different areas such as agriculture, the environment, the food industry or medicine.

Stem Cell Scientist – The primary goal of a stem cell scientist is to understand how this regeneration process can be influenced. Generally, stem cell scientists work in laboratory settings and follow strict lab protocols.

Biomedical Engineers – Biomedical engineers use their engineering and science backgrounds to design the next generation of systems and treatments that will advance the quality of life for patients.